Apparatus for positioning structural members



Nov. 5, 1968 LE GRAND H. LLJLL 3,409,158

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed June 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l LEGRAND H. LL/LL BY ATTORNEY NOV 5, 1968 LE GRAND HV LULL 3,409,158

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed June 1, 1965 4 sheets-sheet 2` INVENTOR. F|G.|| 5am/pawn ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,409,158

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed June l, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTOR.

LEGRAND H LULL ATTORNEY NGV 5, 1968 LE GRAND H. LULL '3,409,158

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed June l, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 647 ,loa

INVENTOR.

./.E GRAND H. LULL BY ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,409,158 APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Le Grand H. Lull, 5501 Woodlawn Blvd., Minneapolis, Minn. 55417 Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,166 11 Claims. (Cl. 214-700) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for mounting on the lift mechanism of a mobile loader for positioning structural members from below during the construction of bridges, buildings, etc. The apparatus includes means for moving a slab or simil'ar structural member vertically and horizontally and for tilting and rotating it as necssary to locate it in place. The apparatus desirably includes a platform for carrying workmen adjacent the structural member lbeing placed and also an independent power and control system operated by the workmen.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for positioning structural members, and more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to improved apparatus of this type adapted for mounting on the lift mechanism of front end loaders, lift trucks and other types of mobile loaders.

The gener-al object of the invention is to improve `apparatus for positioning a load. Other objects of the invention are: to provide improved apparatus for positioning 'structural members such as concrete slabs during their erection at a construction site; to provide apparatus of this type including means for tilting, rotating and displacing the load, said means including novel structure for carrying workmen and novel power and control means operable independently of the loader to which the apparatus is attached; to provide in apparatus of this type novel means for preventing twisting of the iluid pressure lines during the operation of the device; and in general to provide improved apparatus that is removably attachable to a mobile loader and whose function is to facilitate the positioning of concrete slabs during their erection at a construction site, the said apparatus being highly versatile and dependable in operation, simple and inexpensive to construct, and rugged and long wearing in service.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a conside-ration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein a representative embodiment thereof is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention illustrating its use on the front end of a mobile loader during the erection of a structural member at a construction site;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention, shown attached to a loader;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with portions broken -away for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partially in section, taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged lfragmentary view, taken on the line 9 9 of FIG. 6;

3,409,158 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 ICC FIG. 10 is an enlarged lfragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 10 10 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11 is a View, partially in section, taken on the line 11 11 of FIG. 9.

Referring now the drawings, the invention, indicated in its entirety by the reference character A, is shown in FIG. 1 as 4being mounted on the lift mechanism B of a mobile loader C. One specific application of the apparatus is in the positioning of concrete slabs between structural steel beams during the construction of highway bridges, overpasses, and the like. As can be seen in FIG. 1, such a slab D is being raised into place lbetween a pair of spaced parallel structural steel beams E having supporting angles F attached to their web sections G below their upper flanges H. The beams E may be supported by piers I. In order to place the slab D `upon angles F, it must be elevated, tilted, rotated and moved endwise in situs until it is finally maneuvered into position. The present invention accomplishes this task with a minimum of time and diiculty.

The invention A includes a main supporting frame 10 comprising front and 4rear stringers 12, 14 which support a generally rectangular floor 16 upon which is mounted an upstanding guard railing 18. Floor 16 is divided into a pair of full width operator supporting sections 20, 22 adjacent each end thereof and a central section 24 of lesser width than sections 20, 22. The oor 16 is further supported by stringers 15. Vertical supports 26, 28, secured at their lower ends to the rear of rear Stringer 14, extend upwardly on each end of sections 24 of oor 16 to the top of the guard railing 18. Horizontal supports 30, 32 extend forwardly from the tops of supports 26, 28, respectively, yand beyond the front Stringer 12. A transverse channel member 34 connects the forward ends of supports 30, 32. The members 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 constitute a secondary frame, indicated generally by the reference numeral 35, which extends longitudinally of the loader in overlying relation to the central section 24 of floor 16 and between the operator supporting 'sections 20, 22. The guard railing 18 encloses floor sections 20, 22 to define therewith a pair of operator control stations 23, 25 of each side of the secondary frame 35.

The apparatus A is attached to the lift mechanism B of the loader by a pair of rearwardly extending hollow brackets 40 which are secured to supports 26, 28 above stringer 14 and into which is slidably contained a supporting -bar 44 which is received, as at 46, in the side members of the lift mechanism carriage. A pair of hookshaped brackets 50 extend rearwardly from the rear ends of supports 30, 32 into clamping engagement with the top frame member, as at 53, of the lift mechanism B. Further provided are rearwardly projecting lugs 54 which are secured to the lower rear surfaces of 'supports 26, 28 to abuttingly engage and support the lower part of the lift mechanism, as at 57. (See FIGS. 4 and 5.)

The secondary frame 35 functions as a support for the movable load positioning elements of the apparatus. One of these elements is a carriage 60 that is mounted on the forward end of the frame 35 for reciprocal movements in a transverse direction. Means mounting the carriage 60 include a pair of longitudinally spaced guideways 62 formed by the channel member 64 extending ibetween supports 30, 32 in rearwardly spaced parallel relation to the member 34. Rearwardly diverging support bars 62 connect member 64 with supports 30, 32. The flanges 65 of the channel members 34, 64 face each other. The carriage 60 includes a box-like body 61 having side members 66 which support a to-p plate 68. -Four supporting wheels 70, rotatably carried at corner extensions 72 of the side -members 66, rollably engage the lower anges 65 of channel members 34, `64 with clearance 67 being provided between the side members 66 and members 34, 64. The whels'70'are tapered, as at 71, to correspond to the taper of flanges 65. Mounting means 73, including an outwardly disposed stub shaft 75, are provided at each corner 72 to rotatably carry the wheels 70.

Hydraulic means are used to move the carriage 60 within g'uideways 62. This includes a power cylinder 74 which lies below carriage 60 and is Igeneral-ly parallel to members 34, 64. One end of the cylinder 74 is connected to a bracket 76 attached to support 30 while the other end is connected to a bracket 78 secured to the side member 66 of carriage 60 remote from and parallel to support 30, as at 79. Fluid pressure lines 80, 82, connected to the ends of the cylinder 74 are connected to a source of uid pressure and suitable operator controlled valve means (as will be explained) which permits introduction of pressure -uid to one of the ends of the cylinder while exhausting from the other and which permits retention of fluid in both ends of the cylinder to hold its piston in any desired set position. Thus, through the action of the cylinder 74 the carriage 60 may be moved transversely of the frame 35 or it may be set in a selected transverse position.

Another of the movable load positioning elements of the apparatus is a turntable 90 that is rotatably mounted upon the top plate 68 of carriage 60. Means mounting the turntable 90 for rotation about a vertical axis through the center of carriage 60 include a spider type support 92 having an annular bed plate 94 and radial members 96 overlying the top plate 68 of carriage 60. An opening 98 extends through the center of spider 92 and top plate 68. A supporting sleeve 100 extending upwardly through the opening 98 from beneath the plate 68, is fastened atits lower end to plate 68 and projects upwardly above the upper surface of plate 68. Rotatably surrounding the upper part of sleeve 100 is a hub 102 having a plurality of spokes 104 radiating outwardly therefrom above plate 68.A The outer ends of the spokes 104 are carried by a circular ring 106 which is concentric to bed plate 94, hub 102, and disposed outwardly from its inner circumference.

Rotation of the ring 106 about its axis is' effected by means of support wheels 108 which are rotatably carried by the end of each spoke 104 in radially inwardly spaced relation to the ring 106. The wheels 108 rollably engage bed plate 94 and support the entire turntable 90 above top plate4 68 o f carriage 60. In order to limit the angular Yrotation of turntable 90, stop means 107 is provided. This consists of a radially outwardly projecting stop member 109 secured to ring 106 adjacent its lower edge and an upwardly projecting stop member 109. Stop members 109 and 111 engage each other along their opposing radial surfaces to limit the rotation of the turntable to slightly less than 360 degrees;

The iinal load positioning element of the apparatus is a tilting platform unit 110 that is carried above ring 106 of turntable 90 by means of a pair of upstanding standards ,112, 114 which are supported at their lower ends on diametrically opposed sides of ring 106. Standards 112, 114 each are characterized by narrow upper ends having 'openings 116, 118 therein which are'aligned radially and through which an elongated pivot bar 120 extends. Pivotally carried between their ends upon the outer ends '122 of pivot bar 120 are elongated support members 124, 126 which are parallel to each other and upon which is overlaid elongated ilat load engaging and positioning platform 130. Fasteners 128 are secured to the outer ends of bar 120. Hand hold means 132 are secured to each lend of members 124, 126 to allow for hand rotation vof the turntable 90 from each operator control station 23,

25 of'main frame 10. Each hand hold 132 consists of a leg 134 fastened to and extending normal to the length of members 124, 126 and a leg 136 integral with and normal to leg 134, i.e., running parallel to and spaced from members 124, 126. The load D may be fastened to the top of platform 130 by any conventional means such 'I 1y as wire or steel strapping, bolt and hanger combinations,

etc. i

Hydraulic means are used to tilt the platform unit about the pivot bar 120. 'This includes a power cylinder 140 which is connected atone end to a bracket 142 secured tothe topl of ring 106 between standards 112 and 114. T heother end of the cylinder 140' is connected to a depending bracket 144 which is secured to the undersurface of platform. The axis ofthe cylinder 140 is parallel to the length of the platform 130 and members 124, 126. Flexible uid pressure lines 146, 148, connected to the ends of cylinder 140, are ultimately connected to a source of lfluid pressureV and suitable operator controlled valve means (as will be explained) -which permits introduction of pressure fluid to one of the ends of the cylinder while exhausting from the other and which permits retention of uid in both ends of the cylinder to hold its piston in any desired set position. Thus through the action of cylinder the platform 130'may be tilted through a vertical plane on each side' of the pivot bar 120 or it may be set in a selected position, either horizontal or tilted. The hydraulic lines 146', 148 extend from the ends of cylinder 140 into communication with littings 150, 152, respectively, which are mounted in and extend through a plate 154 staked within the upper end 'of sleeve 100. A plate 156, staked into the lower end of sleeve 100, provides a similar mounting for swivel connections 158, 160. A pair of connecting lines 162, 164 extending within sleeve 100 between plates 154, 156 (see FIG. 9) join the ttings 150, 152 and the swivel connections 158, 160. The swivel connections 158, are in communication with `fluid pressure linesy 166, 168 which are connected to suitable operator controlled valve means, as will become apparent.

Fluid pressure to operate cylinders 74 and 140 is provided by means of an hydraulic system including a pump 170, a reservoir tank 172, in operative communication with the pump 170, and valve means consisting of a valve bank 174 having two valves 176, 178. Power for driving the pump 170 s furnished by means of a portable gasoline engine connected to the pump 170 by a belt drive 182. A fuel tank 184 and battery 186 are also provided. These components are mounted on the central section 24 of floor 16 beneath the rear of secondary frame 35. The valves 176, 178 work-to operate cylinders 74 and 140, respectively. To this end, uid pressure lines 80, 82 are connected to valve 176 which is operable to supply fluid through either or both lines according to its position within valve bank 175. Similarly, fluid Pressure lines 166, 168 are connected to valve 17 8 which is operable to supply lluid through either or both of them according to its position within valve bank 175. Operator control of the valves 176, 178 is accomplished by means of 'a pair of generally horizontally disposed elongated control rods 180, 182 operable from either or both of the operator control stations 23, 25. The rods 180, |182 extend crosswise beneath the rear of secondary frame 35 in overlying relation to valves 176, 178 into the operator control stations 23, 25. They are slidably supported for push-pull movement by depending brackets 184 which are secured to members 30, 32 of secondary frame 35. Each rod 180, 182 is provided at its ends with an upright leg 186 that is equipped with a hand engageable rubber grip 188. Control rod 180 isl operlatively connected to valve y 17 6 by linkage means 19,0 which includes an upstanding link 192 pivotally mounted at its lower end, as at 193, to oor 24 adjacent valve 176, a connecting link 194 pivotally joining link 192 to the stem of valve 176, and a collar 196 surrounding rod 180 and pivotally joining the upper end of link 192 thereto. Similarly, control rod 182 is operatively connected to valve 178 by linkagemeans 200 which includes an upstanding link 202 pivotally mounted at its lower end to section 24 of floor 16 adjacent valve'178, as'at 203, a connecting link 204 pivotally joining link 202 to the stem of 'valve 178, land a collar 206 surrounding rod 182 and pivotally joining the upper end of link 202 thereto.

Use and operation of the apparatus As shown in FIG. l, the device A is removably attached to the lift mechanism B of a mobile loader C. The loader is manuevered into position between the piers I supporting a pair of steel beams H. The slab D is mounted on platform unit 110 by conventional means such as steel strapping, bolt and hanger combinations and the like (indicated by the reference character I in the drawings). The carriage of the lift mechanism B is raised to bring the apparatus A up between the piers J into the level of the beams H. If desired, an operator may be carried in each operator control station 23, 25 or a single operator may be used, according to the circumstances. The platform 130 is manually rotated about the axis of turntable 90 by means of the hand holds 132 secured to the platform unit 110. At'the same time, by pushing or pulling the control rods 180, 182, from either control' station 23 or 25, the slab may be tilted about the pivot bar 120 and/or displaced in a transverse direction by the cylinders 74, 140 until final positioning of the slab D upon the supporting angles F is achieved. This sequence may be repeated for each slab in the erection process.

From the foregoing it can be seen that an improved apparatus has been devised for positioning lstructural members during the erection of large structural shapes. The device completely eliminates the need for chain hoists, blocking, jacks, timbers and the like during such an operation and contributes greatly to the speedy, efficient and safe handling of the heavy structural members that are handled.

The invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of its purposes and while there has been disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be specifically understood that it is capable of considerable modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. In many instances, features maybe added; in others, features may be omitted.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in the Iappended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for overhead positioning of a load from below, the combination with a mobile loader having a lift mechanism of:

a supporting frame removably secured to the lift mechanism of said loader for vertical movement, said frame including an operator control station at each end thereof,

a carriage mounted on said frame for generally horizontal reciprocal movements transversely of said lift mechanism between said control stations,

power means operable to effect reciprocal transverse movements of said carriage,

a turntable rotatably mounted on and extending above said carriage for movement about a vertical axis,

a load positioning platform mounted on top of said turntable for supporting a load from below and pivoted about a horizontal axis for tilting movements in a generally vertical plane,

power means operable to effect tilting movements of said platform, means mounted on said frame for supplying power to said power means and control means operable from said-control stations for selectively controlling movement of said carriage and platform.

2. In apparatus for positioning a load, the combination with a mobile loader having a lift mechanism of:

a supporting frame carried by the lift mechanism of said loader,

said frame including an operator control station at each end thereof,

a carriage,

means mounting said carriage on saidframe for transverse reciprocal movement between said control stations,

first hydraulic cylinder means operable to eect reciprocal transverse movements of said carriage, turntable means rotatably mounted on said carriage,

said turntable means including a pair of upstanding standards, l t a load positioning platform pivotally carried by the upper ends of said standards,

said platform being mounted for tilting movements about a sgenerally horizontal axis,

second hydraulic cylinder means operable to effect tilting movements of said platform,

means independent of said loader carried by said frame for supplying fluid pressure to said first and second hydraulic cylinder means,

said last mentioned means including valve means for controlling each of said hydraulic cylinder means and fluid pressure lines connected between said valve means and said hydraulic cylinder means, and,

operator control means mounted at said stations for actuating said valve means.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said load positioning platform is equipped with hand holds reachable from said operator control stations.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said carriage includes a top plate and a supporting sleeve extending upwardly therethrough, and wherein said turntable means includes an annular bed plate carried by said top plate in radially outwardly disposed concentric relation to said supporting sleeve, a hub rotatably surrounding the portion of said supporting sleeve above said top plate, spokes radiating from said hub and overlying said bed plate, a circular ring connecting said spokes beyond the inner circumference of said bed plate, and a support wheel rotatably carried by each of said spokes in radially inwardly spaced relation to said circular ring and rollably engageable with said bed plate.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said supporting sleeve is provided with means for supporting the fluid pressure lines connecting said valve means with said second hydraulic cylinder means.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said circular ring is provided with a radially outwardly extending stop member, and wherein a stop member is mounted on said top plate, the said stop members being engageable with each other and functioning to limit the rotation Yof said turntable means to less than 360 degrees.

7. In an attachment to a mobile loader having a lift mechanism for overhead positioning of structural members from below, the combination comprising:

a main frame adapted to be removably secured to the lift mechanism of said loader for vertical movement, said frame including a floor and upstanding guard rail means extending thereabove,

a secondary frame secured to said main frame between its ends and above said floor, y

said guard rail means and the portions of said fioor outwardly of said secondary frame forming operator control stations on each side thereof, means on said second-ary frame forming a pair of longitudinally spaced guideways, a carriage, means supporting said carriage in said guideways for generally horizontal transverse reciprocating movement,

power means connected between said carriage and said secondary frame for selectively moving said carriage with respect to said frame,

a turntable extending above the top of said carriage,

means mounting said turntable on said carriage for rotation about a generally vertical axis,

a load positioning platform for supporting a load from below,

means mounting said platform on top of said turntable for tilting movement about Va generally horizontal axis, and

power means `connected between said turntable and said platform for selectively tilting said platform about its axis, control means at said control stations for selectively controlling the movement of said carriage and platform means.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said load positioning platform is provided with hand holds which can be reached from either of the said operator control stations.

9. In an `attachment to a mobile loader having a lift mechanism for overhead positioning of structural members from below, the combination comprising:

a main frame adapted to be removably secured to the lift mechanism of said loader,

said frame including a oor and upstanding guard rail means extending thereabove,

a secondary frame secured to said main frame between its ends and above said floor,

said guard rail means and the portions of said floor outwardly of said secondary frame forming operator control stations on each side thereof, means on said secondary frame forming a pair of longitudinally spaced guideways,

a carriage,

means supporting said carriage in said guideways for transverse reciprocating movement,

first hydraulic cylinder means connected between said carriage and said secondary frame for selectively moving said carriage with respect to said frame,

a turntable extending above the top of said carriage,

-means mounting said turntable on said carriage for rotation about a generally vertical axis,

a load positioning platform for supporting a load from below,

means mounting said platform on top of said turntable 40 for tilting movement about a generally horizontal axis,

further hydraulic cylinder means connected 'between said turntable and said platform for selectively tilting said platform about its axis, and

means on said attachment independent of said loader for operating said hydraulic cylinder means, said independent operating means including:

a power plant carried by said main frame between the said operator control stations,

a hydraulic system adjacent said power plant for supplying uid pressure to said hydraulic cylinder means, said hydraulic system including:

a pump operatively connected to said power plant,

a valve bank, and

liuid pressure lines connecting said system to said hydraulic cylinder means, and

operator control means connected to said valve bank for selectively operating said hydraulic cylinder means from said operator control stations.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said operator control means includes:

a pair of push pull rods overlying said valve bank and reachable from each of said operator control stations, and

linkage means operatively connecting said rods to the valves in said valve bank whereby to provide selective control for each of said hydraulic cylinder means.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein stop means are provided for restricting the angular rotation of said turntable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,479,623 8/1949 Johnson 214-700 2,620,930 12/1952 Mullgardt 214-730 2,910,204 10/1959 Wight 214-730 3,171,551 3/1965 Stirling 214-16.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,072,557 12/ 1959 Germany.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner. 

